Tag: psalm348

Part 5 – Seek Refuge (The Finale!)

The finale of the series!🎉 CELEBRATION REQUIRED. GOD IS SO GOOD.

(You can find a spoken version here)

Today we are going to look at the last part of our Psalm 34:8 series! It says at the end of the verse that those who seek refuge in the Lord are happy and blessed. But what does it mean to seek refuge in Him?

In John 8:2-10 we read of a woman who is caught in adultery and is brought to Jesus by the Pharisees. As we all know, Jesus’ response is life-giving: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (v. 7)

– “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

– “No one, Lord.”

– “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

(vv. 10-11)

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

To seek refuge in God is to trust in His goodness and to come boldly before His throne. We are safest when we are with Him. Do you think you went too far with your sin?

Blessed and happy are those who seek refuge in Him. Because they shall obtain mercy and find grace to help them in time of need.

Part 1 – Taste

Welcome to part 1 of my Psalm 34:8 series! A spoken version of this you can find here. Enjoy!

Imagine your favorite food. It’s served before you and you take a bite.

Mmmh … imagine it just melting on your tongue.

Can you taste it?

Now imagine the same – only now, you hastily swallow the food as fast as you can so that you can barely sense the flavor.

Would you still be able to taste it?

To taste is to simply enjoy; to enjoy and to appreciate. You take it in, bit by bit. You are grateful for the pleasure you get from eating it.

This is the first part of Psalm 34:8, to taste Jesus!

To enjoy and appreciate the Word of God, bit by bit. To take in all the flavors that come with getting to know Him.

How about you? Are you a quick eater?

Do you usually swallow down God’s word in haste because you have to? Because you want to get something out of it really quickly?

Here’s a simple encouragement for you today: to just taste Him.

I encourage you to just enjoy the Word of God today and to appreciate Him for who He is!

Maybe even start with treating yourself some good food? Maybe pause a little bit before you start swallowing things up too impatiently.

Just enjoy, take in all the different flavors of God! He is good. He is so good. So, so good!

May you taste God today.

Amen.

Part 4 – Happy and Blessed

What if you went to court for a crime you committed and were sentenced to punishment, even to death? Are you wondering what this question has to do with being blessed and happy?

Just yesterday I had a vision where Jesus carried me up the stairs to a mountain summit. The accuser appeared on the other side and started heaping accusations against me.

κατάκριμα (katákrima) = (from katá, “down, according to,” and kríma, “the results of judgment”); thus, the exact sentence of condemnation handed down after due process of establishing guilt.*

Katakrima. The enemy was trying to make me receive just punishment. But Jesus hid me behind His back and I remember just burying my face into His back and holding tight onto His clothes.

(For God, By sending his own Son, condemned sin in the flesh,) in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 8:(3-)4 ESV

You walk according to the live-giving works of the Spirit now, not the dead works of your own flesh. The enemy cannot sentence you to eternal damnation as long as you remain in Jesus Christ. Is this not incredibly good?

If you do not see yourself as happy and blessed still, I do not know what else can make you truly happy! I mean it! I need to remind myself constantly about this, too!

Just look at His beauty. Behold His glory and remain there with a grateful, praising heart. And you will find yourself in a state of peaceful happiness.

*Source: https://biblehub.com/greek/2631.htm

Part 3 – Pleasantly Good

It’s storytelling time! Enjoy the gift!

(You can find a spoken version here)

Today I want to encourage you with a story.

I recently bought a new pair of earphones. In the box came a second pair of earphones with a note from the seller that it was a gift from the company to support the customers at this time.

What a pleasant surprise!

I was very happy about this gift.

But then I tried using the earphones I had bought and it somehow would not fit and keep falling off! Urgh! It was so irritating!

This morning I remembered the gift and I tried those earphones on. Guess what? They fit perfectly!

I then cried out to God: “God, what am I trying to buy when I can get it all from you for free!”

Just think about it. God knows what’s good for you.

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good [טוֹב (tob)], and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.”

Isaiah 55:1-3a NIV

God is the only one who is good! So pleasantly good!

Let us stop striving by trying to “buy” things from Him or even the enemy. Let us receive for free and give away for free. Does that sound good [טוֹב (tob)]?